Onion help

[kyj]

I've been growing onions from seed in my poly the last two years - they seem to get going well, but the tops don't seem to flop over and die back the way I would expect in autumn. By the time I've decided they are not going to and have lifted them, the outside layers of the onion are starting to mildew/rot. Is it just too damp in there (one poly definitely is but the other is a Solartunnel and pretty well ventilated). Any advice on lifting them earlier and drying them out?

Thanks in advance.

[MKG]

Sounds like the polytunnel environment is just too onion-friendly. Theoretically, there's nothing to stop an onion from carrying on with its growing, given a long-enough day length and high-enough temperature. If they do that for too long a time, they'll rot from the outside in - which is what you're describing. You'd maybe be better off deciding for yourself when they're mature and lifting at that point, regardless of the state of the tops.

Or grow them outside the polytunnel.

Mike

[Odsox]

I had the same problem with my outdoor onions and the only way I could deal with the problem was to "suggest" to the onions that was time to mature by sticking my garden fork under each one and semi lifting them, snapping a lot of roots but still leaving a few.
Most of them took the hint eventually.
Now that I grow them in the tunnel it's a lot easier as I just stop watering them when I judge the time is right.
Then they have no option but to die down.

[kyj]

That's brilliant - thankyou both.